But Monty described their continued use as “really serious,” warning that if bees died out, it would lead to failed pollination of food crops that humans need to survive.

Monty went on: “Why is the government refusing to ban neonicotinoids? Because they make drug companies a lot of money.

Bee populations are in decline (credit: Wikimedia)

“Because the agrichemical business is impossibly vast and powerful and governments bow cowering before them.

“Because our representatives are spineless, ignorant knaves interested in their paltry careers before the good of the people who elected them.

“It is a dirty business and I want no part in it.”

The Soil Association said the decision was “terrible for bees”.

Policy director Peter Melchett said: “There is clear evidence that a ban would work. In Italy, where the government banned certain neonicotiniods, deaths of honey bees in winter fell by more than 50 per cent in three years.”

Friends of the Earth head of campaigns Andrew Pendleton blasted the EC move as a “cop-out”.

“More research is needed to better understand the impact of these factors and how they can be effectively tackled.”

The neonicotinoid in the “vast majority” of Bayer’s Provado range is thiacloprid, which the company said is a “different sub-class to those under discussion and is considered to have a good profile for bees”.

Alison said: “The contribution of bees as pollinators of crops is essential to the ecosystem. We take bee health seriously.”